Jarring tool



Fel-J. 4, 1936..

JARRING TOOL Filed lmay 22' 1935 Patented Feb. 4,1936 y .PATENT OFFICE JARarNG 'rooL lra J. McCullough, Huntington Park, Calif., as-

slgnor to James A. Kammerdiner, Los Angeles,

Calif.

f Application May 22, 1933, Serial No. 672,164

11 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to a welltool and relates more particularly `to a jarring tool for effecting a jarring action to parts in a well bore. It is a general object of the present invention to provide aA simple, practical and particularly effective rotary jar.

l The forms of rotary jars or jarring tools that have been introduced, usually involve slackly connected tubular sections that are interposed in the string of drill pipe and that pass or conduct the mud laden circulation uid owing downwardly through the string. The impact parts or shoulders of the sections that come into jarring engagement upon actuation oi the tool are located within the tubular sections and are of course spaced apart prior to actuation of the tool. The circulation uid conned in the tubular sections and particularly the fluid trapped between the jarring or impact parts, greatly retards the relative movement of the sections when the tool is actuated, to materially lessen the jarring action and reduce the eiciency oi the tool. Attempts have been made to overcome this undesirable feature by providing outlets for the trapped iiuid, but the huid in being very heavy,

does not readily flow through the outlets and resists movement between the sections oi the tool.

An object of the invention is to provide a rotary jar in which the jarring parts or impact parts are unconflned so that the circulation iiuid cannot be trapped between them and interfere with their engagement with one another or retard the relative movement ci the sections of the tool.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a jarring tool that includes two telescoped and relatively movable sections adapted to jar together, the outer section having a slotted or open wall so that the circulation fluid cannot be trapped within it to retard the relative movement of the sections.

Another object oi' the invention is to provide a jarring tool in which the means for releasably holding the sections against relative movement are entirely open or exposed so that they cannot become mudded up or rendered inoperative by accumulations of solid matter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a practical and edective jarring tool that is operable to impart both upward and downward jarring impacts to an object in a well.

Another object of the invention is to provide' a jarring tool oi the character mentioned that may be operated by a simple longitudinal strain (ol. c55-27) on the operating string, While maintaining a torsional strain on `the string.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jarring tool in which lugs or projecting parts on one of the sections cooperate with longitudinal .5 slots in the other section to transmit rotational strains between the sections and thereby provide the jarring eiect and form elements of the means for releasably holding the sections against relative longitudinal movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jarring tool of the character mentioned that does not in any way interfere with the free iiow of circulationuid through the string.

A further object of the invention is to provide 15 a jarring tool that is easy to control and operate and that is particularly simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

Other objects and features ofthe invention will be better and 'fully understood from the following 20 detailed description of a typical form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference i's madeto the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the tool provided by the invention illustrating the parts in the latched or unactuated positions. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l illustrating the parts in the actuated positions Where the tool has been operated to provide an upward jarring action. Fig.

3 is a longitudinal detailed sectional View of the tool illustrating the parts in the actuated position after the tool has been operated to provide a downward jarring blow. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line ft-l on. Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an en larged transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse detailed sectional View taken as indicated by une t-t on Fig. 3.

The jarring tool provided by the invention, includes, generally, two sections A and B related for limited relative longitudinal movement, means itl for transmitting rotational strains between. the sections A and B and for limiting relative Ylongitudinal movement of the sections, and means il associated with the means i0 for releasably holding the sections A and B against relative longitudinal movement.

The body sections 4A and B of the tool constitute an assembly adapted to be interposed between parts of an operating string or shing string of drill pipe. In accordance with the invention, the sections A and B are telescoped or t one into the other, and are related for relative longitudinal movement. In the drawing I have illustrated the tool connected in a string so that the section A is the upper body section, and the section B is the-lower section, it being understood that the tool may be inverted if desired or found practical. The body section A is an elongate tubular member provided at its upper end with means for connecting with the operating string. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, a tapered socket |2 is provided in the upper end of the section A to receive the screw lthreaded pin I3 of a connecting member or sub I4 in the operatingstring. The opening I5 of the tubular section A extends longitudinally through the section from one end to the other. The lower body section B extends into the lower end of the opening |5 of the section A and is slidable or operates vertically ln the opening. The section B projects from the lower end of the section A and is provided at its lower end. with means for connecting with the operating string or a fishing tool, or the like. In the particular construction illustrated in the drawing, a connecting member or sub i6 is threaded on the lower end portion of the section B and is provided at its lower end with a tapered pin |1 threaded into a part |8 on or connected with a fishing tool, or the like.

The means I0 for transmitting rotational strains between the sections A and B and for limiting relative longitudinal movement between the sections includes lugs or projecting parts on one of the sections operating in slots in the other section. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the means I0 includes lugs or projecting parts on the body section B operating in longitudinal slots 2| in the section A. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, there may be any number of cooperating lugs and slots for transmitting torsional strains between the sections A and B and for limiting relative longitudinal movement of the sections. In the form of the invention being described, there are two diametrically opposite lugs or projecting parts 20 on the section B operating in and cooperating with two longitudinal slots 2| in the section A.

The lugs or projecting parts 20 are comparatively heavy and are preferably integral with the body section B. The lugs or projecting parts 20 are provided adjacent the upper end of the section B'and are elongate extending longitudinally of the section B. The sides of the lugs or projecting parts 20 are at and parallel, while the upper and lower ends of the projecting parts are convex or rounded. The lugs or projecting parts 20 may be proportioned so that their outer sides are flush with the periphery of the section A as illustrated throughout the drawing. The slots 2| are provided in the walls of the tubular section A and are shaped and proportioned to slidably pass or receive the projecting parts 20 oi' the section B. The slots 2| are comparatively long and are provided with fiat parallel side walls adapted to slidably cooperate with the sides o! the projecting parts 20. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper and lower ends 22 and 23 respectively of the slots 2| are concave and have the same radii of curvature as the ends of the parts 20. The ends of the projecting parts 20 are adapted to engage the ends of the slots 2| to limit relative longitudinal movement of the sections and to provide the jarring action upon the release of the means as will be subsequently described. It will be apparent how the lugs or parts 20, in cooperating with the side walls of the slots 2| are adapted to transmit torsional or rotational strains between the body sections A and B.

The means for releasably holding the sections A and B against relative longitudinal movement is operable to hold the sections in the latched or unactuated positions illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and is releasable by a longitudinal strain to cause or allow the sections to suddenly move longitudinally relative to one another to bring the ends of the projecting parts 20 and slots 2| into engagement and provide a jarring action. It is an important feature of the invention that the means may be released by either a heavy tensile strain or a heavy compression strain on the operating string and tool to produce orcause an upward jarring action or a downward jarring action between the sections A and B. The releasable holding means includes series of teeth 21 on the lugs or projecting parts 20 adapted to cooperate with or mesh with series of teeth 28 on the section A. 'I'he teeth 21 are formed by a plurality of spaced notches 29 provided in one longitudinal side of each lug or projecting part 20. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the teeth 21 are provided on the rear sides oi the parts 20 relative to the forward or clock-Wise direction of rotation so that the teeth 21 and 28 may be brought into mesh and held in cooperation by a forward or clock-wise rotational strain on the operating string. The notches 29 in each end of the series of teeth 21 are preferably spaced from the ends of the projecting parts 20 so as to leave .,'continuous or uninterrupted portions 30 at each end of the series of teeth.

The teeth 28 are formed by a plurality ot spaced notches 3| in the rear walls of the slots 2|. The teeth 29, in being provided on the rear walls of the slots 2| relative to the right hand direction of rotation, face forwardly so as to mesh or cooperate with the rearwardly .facing teeth 21 on the parts 20. Comparatively large notches 32 are provided at each end of each series of teeth 21 to receive the uninterrupted portions 30 oi the parts 20 and have rounded or concaved walls to receive the rounded ends of the parts 20. l

In 'accordance with the invention, the teeth 21 and 28 are formed so as to cause relative turning between the sections A and B when the sections are put under a heavy longitudinal strain sovthat the teeth may automatically disengage and permit relative longitudinal movement between the sections A and B and bring the ends of the parts 20 into jarring or hammering engagement with the ends of the slots 2|. The upper and lower ends or sides of the teeth 21 and 28 are inclined or converge outwardly toward the outer ends or faces of the teeth. The sides of the teeth 21 and 28 are pitched so as to have sliding engagement when the sections A and B are subjected to a heavy longitudinal strain and thus cause relative turning between the sections A and )3 in a left hand or counter-clockwise direction. In practice, where the section B is connected with a fishing tool in holding engagement with an object caught in a well bore, the section A is caused to turn in a left hand direction when the tool is subjected to a heavy longitudinal strain so that the teeth 21 and 28 move out of engagement with one another to permit the relative longitudinal movement between the sections which provides the jarring blow. The outer ends of the teeth 2,1 and 28 may be flatV and aligned with the sides of the parts 20 and walls of the slots 2|,

so that the sections A and B may freely shift lonl gitudinally relative to one another when the teeth are out of mesh and whenthe teeth 21 and 28 are forced to disengage by-a longitudinal strain on the sections A and B. the parts 20 slide longitudinally in the slots 2l until their ends come into jarring engagement with the ends of the slots. The rounded notches s2 at the ends of the series of teeth 2li, in having rounded walls, permit the uninterrupted portions 3l! at the ends of the parts 2t. to readily pass out y'of them so as to come into sliding contact with the vertical side walls of the slots 2l. The uninterrupted portions tll of the parts 2li prevent premature meshing of the teeth 2l and 2t when the tool is being Set or latched and prevent the teeth from chattering orratcheting together when they have been released. In the form of the invention disclosed in the drawing, the inner walls t5 and td of the notches 29 and 3i are pitched relative to the central longitudinal-axis of the tool so that the teeth 2l and 2li are wider at their outer ends than they are at their inner ends. lt will be apparent how the means lt may be latched by bringing the teeth 2l and 2t into meshing engagement, and how the means il may be released by puttinga heavy longitudinal strain on the tool to cause the pitched sides` oi the teeth to slide out of engagement to iorce the section A to turn relative to the section B so that the ends of the parts 2t may come into jarring engagement with the ends of the slots 2 l. Whether an upward or downward jarring action is produced of course depends upon whether a tensile or compression strain is placed upon the tool to release the means ill. An extremely heavy jarring action may be brought about by maintaining a right hand torsional strain on the section A while releasing the means ti so that a heavier longitudinal strain is required to cause the disengagement. of the meshing teeth tl and tit.

The invention provides means for conducting the circulation fluid through the sections A and B. A central longitudinal I'iuid passage ttl is provided in the section B and extends from the lower end of the section to the upper end of the section where it communicates with a wash pipe il i The wash pipe ill projects upwardly from the upper end of the section B and extends upwardly through the upper portion of the section A and may project into the sub ttl. Means is provided to seal or pack about the wash pipe til. lin the particular case illustrated in the drawing, the packing or sealing means consists of a restricted portion t2 to the'opening l5 having a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular grooves tit. The wash pipe il is slidable longitudinally in the restricted portion l2 of the opening llt, and liquid in the grooves t3 forms a liquid seal about the wash pipe. Circulation iiuid is conducted downwardly through the wash/,pipe 1li, the passage dil,

and flows through the .passage #it of the sub i6 to the shing tool, or iower end portion of the string.

It is believed that the operation of the jarring tool provided by the present invention will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. In order to latch the means ll or bring the teeth2'l and 23 into meshing engagement, the sections A and B are shifted relative to one another to bring the teeth 2l and 28 in alignment and the section A is turned in a right hand direction to cause the teeth to come into meshing cooperation. The continuous or uninterrupted portions 30 'at the ends of the series of teeth 3l prevent partial or premature engagement of the teeth 21 and 28. and prevent chattering or jarring together of the teeth as the means H is set or latched. If it is desired to operate the tool to produce an upward jarring action, a right hand torsional strain and a heavy upward or tensile strain is put on the operating string and tool. The torsional strain is maintained on the string during the operation of the too. The teeth 2l and 28 cooperate to transmit this longitudinal strain between the sections A and B, and are not caused to disengage until a very heavy tensile strain is put on the operating string which will stretch or extend the string to a great extent. When a sufficiently heavy tensile strain is put on the operating string, the pitched or inclined ends of the meshing teeth 2li or 28 cause the upper section A to turn in a left hand direction relative to the section B against the torsional strain maintained on'the string so that the teeth snap out of engagement and allow the' section A to move upwardly relative to the section E so that the lower ends 2t of the slots 2l come into jarring engagement with the lower ends of the parts 20. Upon the release of the means l i, the stretched or extended operating string is suddenly permitted to contract and this contrasting of the string is utilized to effect the jarring action. It will be apparent that while a torsional strainv is maintained. on the string, an extremely heavy tensile strain must be put on the tool to cause the engaging teeth tl and t@ to force the section A to t-urn in a lett hand direction relative to the section B so that they are released to permit the upward movement of the section A relative to the section B and bring about the upward jarring action. The intensity of the jarring blow produced is dependent upon the torsional strain maintained on the tool for when a comparatively heavy right hand torsional` strain is maintained on the tool a very heavy tensile strain is required to release the tool. The tool may be operated to produce a succession of heavy upward jarring blows by alternately subjecting the 'operating string to a heavy tensile strain and allowing it to settle or lower so as to successively release and i engage the latching teeth 2i and 2t.

To provide a downward blow or jarring impact to the object in the well, the teeth 2t and 2t are first brought into meshing engagement by putting a right hand torsional strain on the operating string and manipulating the string to bring the teeth into engagement, and the operating string is permitted to settle or lower so that the sections A and B are `put under a heavy compression strain. The torsional strain is maintained on the string, and when this compression strain becomes suiliciently heavy, the pitched or inclined sides of the teeth 2l and 2t cause the section A to turn in a left hand direction relative to the section B against the right hand torsional strain so that the teeth suddenly slide out ofmesh and allow the upper ends 2t of the slots to suddenly jar against the upper ends of the parts 2t. The settling or lowering of the operating string to release the means lli` may be accompanied by a forward rotational strain on the string so that a greater compression strain is required to release the means lli, thus providing for a. heavier downward jarring blow.

It is to be particularly noted that the jarring tool provided by the present invention is constructed so that fluid cannot be trapped within any of its parts and so that fluid does not in any way retard or interefere with the rela-l tive longitudinal movement between the sections A and B or with the setting and releasing of the means il. The opposite ends of the parts 20 and slots 2i constitute the impact or jarring faces of the tool, and as they arel exposed at,

the outer faces of the tool, circulation fluid cannot be trapped between them and cannot in any way interfere with the free movement of the body sections. The slots 2| are comparatively wide and long so that the interior of the section A is open to the well bore when the section A is in its extreme up position relative to the section B, thereby allowing free escape of the fluid within the section A. The tool` is particularly simple and inexpensive of manufacture and does not involve any springs, latches, or other parts that are subject to failure or liable to become made inoperative by the presence of solid matter. The toothed means il for releasably holding the sections A and B against relative longitudinal movement is fully exposed, and on the outer side of the tool so that its operation is not interfered with by trapped fluid or by accumulations of mud or solid matter.

Having described only a typical form and application of the invention, I do not wish to be restricted to the particular form and application herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may .appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A jarring tool including, a tubular section, a stem section extending into the tubular section, the sections being related for limited relative longitudinal movement, the tubular section having a longitudinal slot in its wall open to its exterior, a lug on the stem section movable in the slot and adapted to cooperate with the ends of the slot to limit relative longitudinal movement of the sections and to provide a jarring action, there being spaced notchesin a side of the lug and a wall of the slot forming teeth adapted to cooperate to releasably hold the sections against relative longitudinal movement, the teeth being releasable by a strain on the sections in either direction, and means whereby the teeth of the lug slide past the teeth of the slot upon the release of the teeth.

2. A jarring tool including, a tubular section, a stem section extending into the tubular section, the sections being related for limited relative longitudinal movement, the tubular section having a longitudinal slot in its' Wall open to its exterior, a lug on the stem section movable in the slot and adapted to cooperate with the ends of the slot to limit relative longitudinal movement of the sections and to provide a jarring action, there being spaced notches in a side of the lug and a wall of the slot forming teeth adapted to cooperate to releasably hold the sections against relative longitudinal movement, the teeth being releasable by a strain on the sections, and means whereby the teeth of the lug slide past the teeth of the slot upon release of the teeth, the said means including parts of the lug at each end of the series of notches in the lug of greater width than the notches in the wall of the slot.

3. A jarring tool including, two relatively movable sections, one section extending into the other, the said other section having a longitudinal slot extending to its exterior to be open to the well bore, an outwardly projecting part on the first mentioned section operating in the slot and adapted to .engage its ends to provide a jarring action between the sections, means conducting circulation fluid through the sections, and means on the said part and said other section for holding the sections against relative longitudinal movement in positions where the said part is spaced between the ends of the slot and releasable by a longitudinal strain on the sections, the last mentioned means including spaced teeth on said part, and spaced teeth on a wall of the slot intermediate the ends of the slot adapted to have releasable meshing engagement with the first named teeth. l

4. A jarring tool including, a tubular section, a second section extending into the tubular section, the sections being relatively movable, there being a slot in the wall of the tubular section open to the Well bore, an outwardly projecting part on the second section operating in the slot and adapted to strike its ends to limit relative movement of the sections and to provide a jarring action, means conducting circulation fluid through the sections, and means for holding the sections against relative movement in positions where the said part is spaced between the ends of the slot and releasable by a longitudinal strain on the sections, the last mentioned means including spaced teeth on said part, and spaced teeth on a wall of the slot intermediate the ends of the slot adapted to have releasable meshing engagement with the first named teeth.

5. A jarring tool including, a tubular section, a second section extending into the tubular section, the sections being relatively movable, there being a slot in the wall of the tubular section, an outwardly projecting part on the second sec tion operating in the slot and adapted to strike its ends to limit relative movement of the sections and to provide a jarring action, longitudinally spaced teeth on the wall of the slot, and longitudinally spaced teeth on the said part cooperating with the flrst mentioned teeth to hold the sections against relative movement in` positions where the said part is spaced between the ends of the slot, said teeth being releasable by a longitudinal strain on the sections in either direction.

6. A jarring tool including, two telescoping sections related Afor relative longitudinal movement, the outer section having a longitudinal slot in its wall extending to its exterior to be open to the well bore, an outwardly projectin-g part on the inner section movable in the slot and adapted to engage an end of the slot to limit relative movement of the sections and to provide a. jarring action, longitudinally spaced projections on the said part and a wall of the open slot adapted to cooperate to hold the sections against relative longitudinal movement, the projections having inclined cooperating surfaces to be releasable by a strain on the sections, the sections having fluid passages, and means for conducting fluid from the passage of one section to the passage of the other section.

'7. A jarring tool including, two telescoping sections related for relative longitudinal movement, the outer section having a longitudinal slot extending through its wall to be open to the well bore, a laterally projecting part on the inner section movable in the slot and adapted to engage its ends to limit relative movement of the sections and to provide a jarring action, a longitudinal series of teeth on the said part, and teeth on a aoaasvathe wall of the slot spaced between the ends of slot adapted to cooperate with the rst mentioned teeth to hold the sections against'relative longitudinal movementv in positions where the said part is spaced between the ends of the slot. said teeth being formed to disengage upon a heavy longitudinal strain being put on the sections in either direction.

8. A jarring tool including, two telescoping sections related for relative longitudinal movement, the outer section having a longitudinal slot in its wall open to its external surface to communicate with the well bore, an outwardly projecting part on the inner 'section movable 4in the slot and' adapted to engage its ends to limit relativemovement of the sections and to provide a jarring action, longitudinally spaced teeth on the said part, and teeth on a wall of the slot spaced between the ends of the slot adapted to cooperate with the rst mentioned teeth to hold the sections against relative longitudinal movement ln positions where the said part is spaced between the ends of the slot, the teeth having tapered upper and lower sides so as to disengage upon a heavy longitudinal strain being put on the sections in either direction.

9. A jarring tool including, a tubular section, a stem section extending into the tubular section, the sections being related for limited relative longitudinal movement, the tubular section having a longitudinal slot in its wall open to its exterior to communicate with the well bore, a. lug on the stem section movable in the slot and adapted to cooperate with the ends of the slot to. limit relative longitudinal movement of the sections and to provide a jarring action, longitudinally spaced parts on the lug, and a series of longitudinally spaced parts on a wall of the slot adapted to cooperate with the rst named parts to hold the sections against relative longitudinal move- 5 ment, the parts being releasable by a downward force on the sections to bring the lug and an end of the slot into jarring engagement.

10. .A jarring tool including, a tubular section, a stem section extending into the tubular section, the sections being related for limited relative longitudinal movement, the tubular section having a, longitudinal slot in its wall open to its exterior to communicate with the well bore, a lug on the stem section movable in the slot and adapted to cooperate with the ends of the slot to limit relative longitudinal movement o-f the sections and to provide a jarring action,` there being a recess in a wall of the slot adapted to receive the lug, and longitudinally spaced parts on the lug and the Wall of the recess adapted to mesh to releasably hold the sections against relative longitudinal movement, the recess being spaced between the ends of the slot whereby the lug is spaced between the ends of the slot when the said parts are in mesh. v

11. A jarring tool to be connected in a tubular string including, two relatively longitudinally movable sections, one section telescoping into the other, one section having a longitudinal slot open at its exterior to communicate with the Well bore,

a lug on the other section movable in the slot and adapted to engage an end of the slot to provide a jarring action, means for holding the sections against relative longitudinal movement releasable by a longitudinal strain on the sections the said means including longitudinally spaced teeth on the lug and a wall of the slot adapted to mesh to hold the sections against relative movement, the teeth having cooperating inclined sides that cause relative turning between the sections when they disengage, and means for conducting fluid through the sections.

` IRA J. MCCULLOUGH. 

